Boating

Operating Rules

1. All State of Illinois and U.S. Coast Guard rules and regulations apply to all watercraft operated on Little Swan Lake at all times. Some are reiterated below for emphasis.
2. Those participating in motorized water sports must wear Coast Guard approved life-preserving devices.
3. Motorized water sports are permitted from one-half hour before sunrise until one-half hour after sunset.
4. No skier shall ski or attempt to ski with a tow bar placed around the neck.
5. Motorized water sports are restricted to the area between the dam and the no wake buoys.
6. All boaters must respect the no wake zone west of the no wake buoys.
7. All persons shall be completely inside the boat while riding. No standing or sitting on decks, seat backs, or gunnels is permitted when the watercraft is underway. This will be strictly enforced.
8. Speedboats and participants are required to stay at least 100 feet from other boats, docks, and shorelines, except when beaching or leaving shore or dock.
9. Two persons are required to be aboard a boat when engaged in towing any person participating in a water sport.
10. Ski boat operators are advised not to trail tow ropes in the water except when returning for a fallen skier. Other boaters are cautioned against crossing the ski boat's wake closer than 100 feet to the boat. Each boat operator is responsible for his or her own dropped loose skis.
11. Allow up to 2 tow ropes and a maximum of up to 3 persons in any combination of up to 2 towables built to accompany such use.
12. Children 13 years old and under must wear a life jacket when in a boat that is not tied to a dock.
13. Boat traffic shall be in a counter-clockwise pattern.
14. State law places restrictions on motorboat operators between the ages of 12 and 17. Such persons must operate the boat under the supervision of a parent, guardian, or someone at least 18 years old designated by a parent, or must hold a Boating Certificate issued by the State Department of Natural Resources. The law also bars anyone age 9 or under from operating a motorboat, and requires anyone age 10 or 11 to have a parent, guardian, or someone over age 18 aboard.
15. There will be no boating on the lake when it is at or above flood stage.
16. Guest watercraft of any type are not permitted at any time.

Boat Ownership and Registration

The State of Illinois requires all powered watercraft, both motorized and sail, operating on Little Swan Lake to be registered with the Department of Natural Resources. Little Swan Lake Club also requires all boats, both powered and non-powered, to be registered and decaled by the club.

1. The boating committee will review applications for registration of motorized boats when all of the following information is received.
   1. A completed registration application, including answers to all yes or no questions.
   2. A copy of the applicant's current state registration card when applicable.
   3. If false information has been supplied for the purpose of registering a boat that does not meet the rules, the member supplying the false information will be suspended from lake privileges for that boat for the entire season.
2. No boat requiring the club's decal shall be launched until that Little Swan Lake decal has been obtained and affixed to the boat. The committee will meet once a week to review all pending applications. If a boat meets the requirements for registration approval, a permanent season decal will be mailed to the applicant. The boat committee reserves the right to inspect any boat before or after a permanent season decal is issued if questions arise regarding size and horsepower rules. Any current member whose dues are paid may request an inspection of any boat for good cause. The request must be made in writing and state the reason for cause.
3. Size and power restrictions are listed below.

No permanent enclosed structures are allowed on the deck. Current marine standards apply.

4. No air boats, jet boats, houseboats, or personal watercraft are permitted.
5. No homemade boats are permitted without consent of the boat committee as to structural content and material. Homemade pontoon boats must be constructed on commercially manufactured, Coast Guard approved aluminum pontoons.
6. All boats must have a Little Swan Lake Club decal. The annual fee for registration is $30 for each motorized boat and $5 for each non-motorized watercraft.
7. Boat trailers, pontoons, and boats registered with a valid and current Little Swan Lake Club sticker can be placed temporarily on unimproved lots from April 1 through October 31 each year. Items placed as described must be moved or trimmed around often enough to prevent weed growth, and they must be removed from the lot from November 1 through March 31 each year. Unregistered boats and trailers, campers, or recreational vehicles are not allowed on unimproved lots or club outlots at any time. The Little Swan Lake Board of Directors shall notify owners of lots with violations by registered letter, asking that the object be removed within 30 days. If not removed, the owners will lose lake privileges and be fined $100 per month until removed. Failure to remove the object within three months after receipt of notice may subject the owners to legal proceedings for collection of fines and or removal of the object at the direction of the Board of Directors. Costs for removal and storage of the object will be the responsibility of the owner.